Impulse transmitting device



J. G.-BLES$ING IMPULSE TRANSMITTING DEVICE s sheets-sheet 2' Inuan ur ...Iuhn 551555111 -Original Filed Oct. 15, 1924 J. G, BLESSING' 1,715,157

IMPULSE TRANSMITTING DEVICE -Original Filed Oct. 15, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I FL:

--Inuan7n Jul-m E Blessm Patented May 28, 192%. nuirea stares JOHN-G. measure, or cnroaoo, rumors, assrenon, an nnsnn assremmnrs, TO AUTOMATIC nnnornrc me, or cnrcaeo, rumors, a conron'a'rronor 1mm mmms'n 'rnansnrrrrne nnvrcn Application filed October 15, 1924, Serial No. 743,659. Renewed April n, 1923.

The present invention relates in general to impulse transmitting devices, but is particularly concerned with that type of transmitting devicewhich, responsive to a single actuation thereof, transmits the called subscribers entire number.

This case may be considered as an improvement on the conding Blessing applications, Serial No. 18,460, filed June 17,

1924:,and Serial No. 734,5;61, filed August 28, 1924;; and the object of the invention is' to improve the design and construction to a point where it maybe put into commercial use and may be depended upon to give reliable and satisfactory service.

The invention will be more readily un: derstood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification;

Referring now to the drawings :-.-Fig. 1 shows a top view of the device with certain parts broken away so as to more. clearly show the operating parts. v I

Fig. 2 is an elevation of Fig. l, with certain parts broken away and with other parts shown in cross-section in order to more clearly show the .various co-operating parts. In this figure the terminal block 79 and the assembly holding shunt spring 74 have also been shown detached and dropped down from mounting plates 59 and 4, respectively, to avoid hiding certain of the operating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a detail not visible in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a bottom viewof Fig. 1 with certain parts broken away.

Fig. 4 is. a perspective of the assembly mounted on the bottom of shaft 68.

Fig. 5 is a view of the disc assembly as it would appear in Fig. 1 if fully shown 1 "therein.

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram showing the device connected for use with an ordinary substation used in. I automatic telephone systems.

Fig. 7 is a detailed cross-sectional view in,

elevation showing the relation between the finger hole dial and the finger stop as well as other minor details. 1 In order to describe the construction of the device, reference is made first to Figs.

2 and 3. As will be observed from these:

figures, the framework for supporting the member 65 and the two other similar span-- mechanism consists in the main of mountmg plates 3, 4, and 59, which are held in desired relation to each other by the spacing members 65, 105, and two other similar pairs of posts or members. The spacing mg members are provided with screws 63', 63, and 63 respectively, for the purpose of locking the framework of the mechanism in an appropriate housing, forinstance, such as thatdisclosed in the previously referred to application Serial No. 718,460.

T e calling device herein disclosed, as in the applications referred to, is so arranged that the finger hole dial serv es as a subscribers number selecting device in that its degrees of rotation determines which 0 ratlonsof the impulse cam will be ren cred efiective, while the movable finger stop, which is operated a definite distance each time a number is transmitted, is efi'ective to cause the impulse cam to be driven a definite number of revolutions regardless of the digits of a called number.

lln brief, the operation and construction of the device is as follows: The device is provided with a finger hole dial with thirty holes, each having a number assigned to it wh ch represents a particular call number which may have as many digits in it as the system requires. When connection is desired with any one of the thirty subscribers, the calling subscriber places his finger in the hole corresponding to the subscriber wanted and rotates the dial as far as it will go and then releases it. The distance of rotation of the dial, before it en ages the-finger stop, determines the code 0 impulses which will be transmitted, while the finger stop in movmg wmds up the mechanism for causing the generation of impulses. As soon as the nger stop is moved or normal the dial becomes locked to the finger stop so that rotation of the dial in either direction independent of the finger stop, is prevented until the finger stop has returned to its normal position,after which the finger hole dial is permitted to return to its normal position.

The construction and operation of the impulse transmitting device willfnow be described more in detail. As best illustrated, in Fi 7 the finger hole dial 1 is mounted on a sha- 68 adjacent to a toothed wheel 43 to which it is keyed. by a downwardly extending portion of the dial registering with a hole in wheel 43. The finger hole dial 1 is held in place on the shaft together with an instruction card ring62 by the nut 61 (see Fig. 2). The finger hole dial 1, toothed wheel 43, and the shaft 68 are, therefore, fixed in permanent relation to each other. The shaft 68 extends downwardly through hub 126, (to which hub is fixed the finger stop 42, gear 25 and gear 57 through mounting plate 4, spring 68, and mounting plate 59. The spring 68 has one end anchored to mounting plate 4 and the other anchored to shaft 68. This spring is so tensioned during assembly that it normally tends to rotate the dial in a counter-clockwise direction for a purpose which will subsequently be made clear. On that part of the shaft 68 lying below mounting plate 59 is mounted the unit comprising the various parts shown in Fig. 4. This unit consists of a gear wheel 92, which is rotatably mounted on the shaft, but which is linked to the shaft by a clock spring 127 (see Fig. 3) which has one end fixed to the gear 92 and the other end fixed to the spring cup 93. v The spring cup 93 is keyed to the shaft 68. A washer 94 having a downwardly extending projection 106 is mounted on the shaft adjacent the bottom of spring cup 93. This projection extends into a notch formed by cutting away a portion of the wall of cup 93. A pin 108 fastened to the lower side of gear 92 is in the path of projection 107. The notch formed by cutting away a part of the wall of cup 93 is sufficiently Wide to allow a slight rotary movement of washer 94 independent of the cup .93. However, when the spring 127,.

cup 103, gear 92, and the washer 94 are assembled in place, the spring 127 is so tensioned that the pin 108 holds the projection 106 to one extreme side of the notch. The whole assembly is held in place by Washer 95 and the nut 96. There is just sufiicient play between spring cup 93 and the washer 94 to permit the shaft 68 to be rotated one complete revolution independent of the gear 92. The reason for making these provisions will be brought out hereinafter.

The gear 92 is in permanent mesh with a pinion 91 (see Fig. 3) which is in fixed relation to a gear 102. The gear 102 is in permanent mesh with pinions 111 and 103. The former pinion is for driving the governor 129 through the medium of the clutch or ratchet device, comprising parts 67 and 70, while the latter pinion is in permanent fixed relation to and operates the worm gear 72 to bring about the elevation of hub 73, which carries a pawl 10. This pawl is slidable vertically on bracket member 58, (see Figs. 2 and 6) so that it may be positioned opposite any disc 6' of the group 71 (see Fig. 5) depending on the degrees or distance of rotation of the dial.

The operation of the various parts above described will now be taken up. For this purpose it will be assumed that the desired subscriber may be obtained by dialling the number 25. The party calling this number will place a finger in the hole over the number 25 and rotate the dial in a clockwise direction as far as it will go. However, the operation which we are now considering is that which takes place prior to any movement of the finger stop. As the dial rotates it carries with it the gear 92 through the medium of shaft 68 and spring 127. The spring 127 merely acts as a connecting link at this time, since there is considerably less energy required to rotate the gear 102 and pinion 103 and 111 that is required to wind up the clock spring 127. Due to the ratchet connection between the pinion 111 on shaft 112 and the governor 129, the governor is ineffective during the. forward rotation of.

the dial. The rotation of the pinion 103 during the forward rotation of the dial, however, causes the worm 72 to elevate the hub 73 and the pawl 10 carried by it (see Fig. 6). As previously stated, the amount of elevation or disc selected depends upon the distance of rotation of-the finger hole dial. The pawl 10 is normally opposite the first one of the discs 6, and therefore no elevation of the hub or pawl 10 is required when number 1 on the dial, or the subscriber corresponding to that number, is desired. The edge of finger hole number 2, nearest finger stop 42, is eleven degrees therefrom, while the remaining finger holes are spaced eleven degrees apart from each other. The pitch of the worm 72 is therefore such that for each eleven degrees of rotation of the finger hole dial prior to its engagement with the finger stop, the pawl 10 is elevated the distance of one disc 6, to the next similar disc. From this it will be appreciated that since the number 25 is being dialled the worm 72 will elevate the hub 73 and pawl 10, 25 minus 1, times 11, or a total of 264 degrees, which will elevate pawl 10 opposite the twenty-fifth disc 6 of the group 71.

Before going ahead with the description of operation, the parts affected by the finger stop 42 will be described. As previously mentioned, the finger stop 42 is in fixed relation to hub 126 (see Fig. 7). The gear unit comprising gear wheel 25 and gear wheel 57 is also in fixed relation to the hub 126. In permanent mesh with the gear 25 is a pinion 104, most clearly shown in Fig. 1, which is mounted on the same shaft as is gear 24 through the medium of the pawl 27 and ratchet wheel 26. The gear 24 meshes with a pinion 35 which is in fixed relation to a shaft 34 carrying an impulse cam 99 and a worm wheel 51. This gear train is for rotating the impulse cam 99 which, in turn, operates impulse springs 76 and 77, as will be explained later. In order to maintain a constant speed of operation of the impulse cam a governor 64 is provided which is operated through the medium of its worm and the previously mentioned worm wheel 51 on the shaft 34. Also mounted on the shaft 34, immediately above the pinion 35, is a stop member 36. A rotatable member 55 mounted on the mounting plate 3 by means of a screw is provided with a downwardly extending arm 40 which is normally held in the path of rotation of stop 36 by a downwardly extending cam 31 on the finger stop engaging an upwardly extending arm on member 55. As soon as the finger stop is moved off normal the member 37 is moved under the infiuence of spring 56, as will be described subsequently. A' pin 32 extending downward from gear 25 normally engages an arm 14 to prevent an arm 15 from being moved under tension of spring 110 (see Fig. 2) from being moved into the path of rotation of cam 21 on the upper end of the shaft 22 carrying worm 72.

The gear 57 is permanently in mesh with gears 8 and 50. The gear 8 has the same number of teeth as the gear 57, and therefore is rotated a com lete revolution and returned each time the nger stop 42 is fully operated and restored to normal. The gear 8 is held in fixed relation to the disc assembly by nut 11, and this permits adjustment to be made between the disc assembly and the gear train. The gear 50 is mounted on a shaft about which is wound a power spring 66, one end of which is in fixed relation to the gear and the other end of which is in fixed relation to the mounting plate 59. This spring is normally partially wound up and holds the fingerstop in the position shown in the drawing, the finger stop being prevented from rotating further after it engages a downwardly extending arm 39 of the member 37 (see Figs. 1, 2, and 7 which in turn engages the stop 30 exten ing upward from the mounting plate 3.

We will now proceed with the description of operation. As soon as the finger stop 42 is moved off normal the arm 37 is permitted to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction under tension of spring 46 until .its end 41 engages the toothed wheel 43, thereby lock:

ing the dial and finger stop together as 'a unit. The pin 31 extending downward from the finger stop at the same time disengages itself from arm 55 which is rotatable a limited extent, determined by the size of the '40lout of ran e of the stop 36, which, as previously exp ained, is fixed to pinion 35.

Another operation which takes place upon movement of the finger stop is that the pin mesh with the gear train connecting with gear 92, and the pinion for driving the governor 129, it will be seenthat further rotation of the gear 92 is prevented. This does not, however, prevent the dial and finger stop from being rotated further, but it is here that the spring 127 comes .into play, it being wound up during the continued rotation of the dial and finger stop instead of merely acting as a unit for connecting the gear 92 to the shaft.

The finger stop is rotated on around a complete revolution, but just before completing the revolution a pin 29, extending outward from the hub 126, engages an 'arm 18 of the member 16 rotatably secured to mounting plate by a screw 19. The finger stop in completing its V revolution, through the medium of the arm 29 and arm 18, shifts the arm 18 of the member 16 out of a notch in the bracket 58 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 6). This permits the bracket 58 and its arm 72 to be rotated on the shaft 23 under the influence of spring 114 until the pawl 10 engages the guide 9 of the disc assembl (see Figs. 2, 5, and 6). It also permits a urther rotation of pawl 10, suiiicient to cause arm 78 to move the impulse springs 76 and 77 into range of cam 99, and shunt spring 75 into engagement with spring 74 when a detent of a selected disc 6 registers-with pawl 10.

The device is now in condition to transmit impulses in, accordance with the disc 6' selected, power for restoring the finger stop having been stored up in the spring 66, by

the forward movement of the finger stop, through the medium of gears 50 and 57. Since the finger stop 42 is rotated one cofhplete revolution and, further, since gears 57 and 8 have the same number of teeth, the drum carrying the disc assembly 71 was rotated one complete revolution in a counterclockwise direction during the setting of the finger sto illustrate drawings. Durin the return movement of the finger stop, t e gear 25, through the medium of pinion 104,- awl 27 and ratchet wheel 26, rotates the impulse cam 99 on shaft 34, the speed of rotation being con trolled by the governor 64 which is operated by the worm wheel 51 on shaft 34.

As the finger stop rotates back to normal the disc assembly 71 also rotates back to normal in a clockwise direction. As the disc assembly rotates the pawl 10 drops into the various detents in the disc oppositewhich it which placed it in the position in the various figures of the v is positioned under tension of the spring 75. Each time this occurs impulse springs 7 6 and 77 are moved into range of the impulse cam 99, and the shunt spring 75 is moved into engagement with shunt spring 74. As will be readily apparent, the groups of impulses transmitted are therefore determined by the particular disc opposite which the pawl 10 has been positioned. The shunt springs 74 and 7 5 are brought into service only during the transmission of impulses and, serve to short circuit the receiver and transmitter in the same manner as do the shunt springs of the ordinary substation calling device.

Just prior to the time the finger stop has reached its normal position, pin 32 on gear 25 again engages arm 14 and shifts the arm 15 out of range, of the cam 21 on the worm 72. At the same time, arm 29 on hub 126 engages the member 16 to shift its arm 17 .into the notch on member 58, thereby preventing the pawl 10 from engaging any disc opposite which it has been moved on a subsequent operation of the dial unless the finger stop is moved to its limit of rotation, or, in other words, until the dial has been again fully operated. This prevents the possibiL ityof an incomplete number being transmitted due to only a partial operation of the finger stop.

As a result of the pin 31 again engaging member 55, its arm 40 is again placed in the path of the stop 36, thereby preventing any over-run of the impulse cam 99 which might otherwise occur due to the freedom of rotation permitted by the pawl and ratchet 27, 26. \Vhen the finger stop finally reaches normal position, the arm 39 of member 37 is brought into engagement with stop 30, causing arm 41 to disengage itself from the toothed wheel 43. This unlocks the dial and allows it to return to normal under tension stored up in its power spring 68 during its forward movement. Since now the arm 15 has been moved out of range of the cam 21 on worm 72, the gear 92 is permitted to rotate with the dial to restore the pawl 10 to its normal position by rotating the worm '72 in the opposite direction. The speed of the return of the dial is now under control of the governor 129. The downwardly extending pin 135 on the finger hole dial and the stop 44 on the finger stop determine the normal position of the dial, a leather bumper 45 being inserted in the member 44 so that a cushion effect is obtained.

A description will now be given of the operating circuit which is disclosed in Fig. 6. The impulsing circuit extends from line conductor 130, primary winding of the induction coil at substation A, switchhook contacts, shunt springs 74 and 75, and through impulse springs 76 and 77 to the line conductor 131.

mitter and receiver extends from shunt spring 75, impulse spring 76, impulse springs of the calling device S, to and throughthe transmitter and receiver to the shunt spring 74.

It will be appreciated from the above that applicant has designed and constructed a calling device which, to all appearances, has reached a stage of development leaving little to be desired.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In an impulse transmitting device, an impulse cam, a bank of discs, each disc having its periphery notched differently, a pair of impulse springs normally opposite but out of range of said cam, means for rotating said discs, a. lever for shifting said springs into range of said cam normally positioned opposite one of said discs, means for elevating said lever opposite any other of the discs, and means for rotating said cam and discs to cause said lever to shift said springs into and out of range of said cam for varying periods, dependent on the contour of the disc opposite which the lever has been positioned.

2. In an impulse transmitting device, impulse springs, a cam for operating said springs normally out of range thereof, means for moving said springs into range of said cam to permit the cam to operate them, a plurality of means for controlling the movement of said springs into and out of range of the cam for variable periods, and means controlled by a single actuation of the device for preselecting one of said means;

3. In an impulse transmitting device, means responsive to a single actuation and restoration thereof for causing the device to transmit a plurality of series of impulses, and means for preventing the transmission of any impulses in case the dial is restored without its being fully operated.

4. In an impulse transmitting device of the type in which any one of a limited number of series of codes of impulses may be transmitted responsive to a single actuation thereof, an impulse cam, impulse springs adapted to be operated by said cam, and means for placing said springs into operative relation with said cam for varying periods dependent on the particular selective operation of the device.

5. In an impulse transmitting device, means for transmitting a plurality of series of impulses in response to a single actuation thereof, means for transmitting a different plurality of series of impulses responsive to another single selective actuation thereof, said means including an impulse. cam, impulse springs, and means for periodically placing said springs within operating range of said cam. i I

6. In an impulse transmitting device, an impulse cam, impulse and shunt springs, a lever for moving said impulse springs into and out of range of said impulse cam and for causing the closure of said shunt springs each time the impulse springs are moved into range of the'cam, a plurality of discs each adaptedto co-operate with the said lever, means for positioning said lever opposite any one of said discs, means for rotating said impulse cam, and means for rotating said discs to render said lever effective at times dependent on the disc opposite which the said lever has been positioned.

7. In an impulse transmitting device, a rotatable finger hole dial, a train of gears operable by rotation of said dial to select any one of a plurality of impulse transmitting control devices, a rotatable finger stop for preparing for operation impulse transmitting mechanism associated therewith, and means for permitting the continued rotation of said finger hole dial to permit rotation of said finger stop without affecting said gear train.

8. In an impulse transmitting device, a rotatable dial having means controlled thereby for determining what digits are to be transmitted by the device as a result of its operation and release, a rotatable finger stop having means controlled thereby for rendering efiective means for transmitting digits as determined by the rotation of the dial, and means co-operatin with the dial and finger stop for connecting the two together as a unit so that during rotation of the finger stop the dial rotates with it but is inefiective to .further influence the digit selecting means.

L 9. In an impulse transmitting device, a finger hole dial, a power spring, means controlled by the rotation of the dialfor storing power in said spring, means also'controlled by the rotation of the dial for bringing about the selection of a particular di it to be transmitted, a rotatable finger stop or effecting the transmission of impulses asdetermined by the previously rotated dial, a power spring for returning such finger stop to its initial position, means for locking.

the dial in fixed relation to the finger sto'p during its forward and backward movement, a governor rendered o erative during the backward movement 0 the finger stop to regulate the return movement thereof, a second governor rendered effective to govcm the return movement of the dial following its release by the finger stop reaching its normal position, and means for rendering said governors ineffective during the forward rotation of the dial and stop to retard their movement. 7

10. In a, calling device of-that type which is designed and constructed so that it transmits an entire subscribers number responsive to a single selective actuation, a train of gears operated during the forward movement of the dial to determine what number is to be transmitted, a movable finger stop for causing the transmission of impulses as determined by the dial, power springs for retermined by the selective operation of the dial.

12. In animpulse transmitting device of the type used in transmitting a plurality of series of impulses responsive to a single combined selecting and winding up operation thereof, a designation plate, a pair of impulse springs, an impulse cam, means indidetermining the code of impulses to be trans mitted, and means for selecting any one of said individual means and cooperative therewith to bring said impulse springs and impulse cam into operative relation with each other for eriods determined by the particular individual means selected.

13. In an impulse transmitting device of the type in which any one of a number of series of codes of impulses may be trans- I mitted responsive to a single actuation and restoration thereof, of means for preventing the transmission of impulses but not the restoration of the device should the device not be fully operated. 14. In an impulse transmitting device a rotatable finger hold plate, a movable finger stop; and means responsive to the movement of the finger stop, when such movement fol lows the movement of said finger hold plate, for locking the finger hold plate and stop together as long as the finger stop is in other than its initial position.

15. In an impulse transmitting device; a finger hold dial for determining, by a certain portion of its movement, the impulses to be transmitted; a movable finger stop operable 90 vidual to each designationvon said plate for s means for causing said springs to be actuated by said cam at various times dependent on the particular selective operation of the device.

17. In an impulse transmitting device, a rotatable finger hole dial, a train of gears operable by rotation of said dial to select any one ofva plurality of impulse transmitting control devices included therein,

10 means movable for preparing the selected impulse transmitting control device for operation, and means for permitting the continued rotation of said finger hole dial to permit movement of said means without afl'ecting said gear train.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 13th day of October, A. D. 1924.

JOHN G. BLESSING. 

